If you have ever taken a walk through a forest, a woodland, or a park, then you have likely encountered exotics plants. What may be difficult to distinguish, however, is whether or not those exotic plants are invasive.Unfortunately, most of us think that if it’s green it’s good, but being green could be misleading.Invasive exotic plants are consuming growing space at an alarming rate and replacing our native species. These changes in plant species can have dramatic impacts both economically and ecologically to landowners and the ecosystem. Invasive species are such a problem that we are devoting an entire Podcast series to this topic.

In Part I of the Got Nature? Podcast mini-series on Invasive species, our host, Rod Williams, will be interviewing Lenny Farlee, who is an extension forester with the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center at Purdue University. Lenny will be the first expert in a series of podcasts devoted to the topic of invasive species, both terrestrial and aquatic. Lenny will be introducing our listeners to the topic of invasive species, identifying which species pose the greatest threats to the woodlands within Indiana, and discussing the ecological and economic impacts invasive plants pose to landowners. This podcast also will highlight methods that can be used to manage woodlands infested with invasive plants.